I need an electrical connector, but how do I know which one?

22/08/2017 17:27

This is a question that we not only get asked regularly, but that we look forward to because it allows us to let out our inner geek and draw upon our years of experience.

The most common scenarios are:

There is a connector in situ and the mating half is needed, or a connector needs to be replaced due to damage

A new product design needs a way of receiving power/signal

When there is a connector in situ we can usually identify this and its mating half quite swiftly, especially if we receive pictures from various angles showing the mating face and a side profile. If a picture isn’t possible, a description or datasheet will usually suffice.

We represent over ten of the industry’s leading connector manufacturers, and so often the connector is part of our connector portfolio. If not, we can usually recognise quite quickly if this is a version that we can look to cross reference with a compatible connector that we are able to supply.

People are often overwhelmed when starting afresh and adding connectors to a new product design because there are hundreds of connector manufacturers and thousands of connector series, each with various features and benefits.

There can be many reasons why one connector series is chosen over the other. The main specifications to look out for include:

Locking mechanism

Termination method

IP rating

Power rating

Wire gauge

Cable OD

Pin-count

Size/space restrictions

Cost

Our website is a useful tool for narrowing down your options because we have a filter called the ‘connector selector’, which allows the user to select the features that are required and to eliminate the versions that don’t meet the required standard. If you need help or guidance selecting a suitable connector, please pop us a message over by completing our contact form, or call us on 01744 815001.